Value of a Back Pain MRI

A back pain MRI is the most useful of all diagnostic testing procedures
used to ascertain possible structural causes for a chronic dorsopathy
complaint. However, not all is positive when it comes to magnetic resonance testing.
This is because although the test itself is virtually risk-free and
incredibly precise, the results must be subjectively interpreted by a radiologist.
This can lead to some serious problems when it comes to achieving a
true and correct diagnosis of the actual source of pain, versus simply
recognizing the structures which might be deemed atypical.

Magnetic resonance imaging provides ultra clear and detailed
pictures of the spinal structures from various angles, allowing doctors
an unprecedented look inside the body to observe the spinal column from
every possible vantage point. In fact, when pieced together, the
various images of an MRI can create a virtual three dimensional model of
the spine.

Back Pain MRI Benefits

MRI is a fantastic technology which will detail all the spinal
structures, including bones, discs, and some neurological tissues. MRI
is far more advantageous to both doctors and patients alike, when
compared to more common back pain x-ray films, which show little detail, except bone.

MRI will provide some insight as to the possible source of
symptoms in the spinal column and may help to rule out possible
causations, as well as narrow the field of suspected culprits. When it comes to confirming or excluding structural issues which
may or may not be responsible for enacting pain, there is no beating MRI
technology. No other test can produce such accurate and detailed
images, helping patients to better understand exactly what is occurring
inside their vertebral columns.

Back Pain MRI Problems

Although the MRI will detail the spine and show any irregularities which exist, there is no way to determine if these spinal abnormalities are indeed responsible for enacting pain from the test itself. In fact, statistics show little, if any, correlation between most
spinal structural irregularities and the incidence of back or neck
pain.

Although most of the common abnormalities, such as spinal
arthritis and herniated discs, are often blamed for creating pain, there
are many people with identical structural issues who endure no pain
whatsoever. Meanwhile some people have dire and chronic pain, yet do
not present any unusual MRI findings in their spines. It is no wonder that many medical organizations have now warned
member physicians never to utilize MRI results as an exclusive
diagnostic tool without performing all the other intrinsic steps, such
as clinical symptomatic correlation and neurological testing.

Back Pain MRI Advice

Remember that some, if not all, of the structural issues detailed on
an MRI report will be coincidental to the pain and not the direct source
of it. These are called back pain scapegoats
and are the primary reason for the epidemic misdiagnosis of dorsalgia
symptoms in the healthcare system. Sure, the irregularities are there,
but they do not cause any pain in most instances.

Remember also that many spinal abnormalities are discovered via
imaging after a traumatic accident. There is pain from the trauma and
many times, a herniated disc, or other irregularity, will be noted on
the film and blamed on the recent injury. However, these abnormalities often existed there long before the
accident and were not caused by the event. The condition never caused
pain before and does not cause pain now. This is why it is crucial to
go to a spinal expert who can decipher old abnormalities from new fresh
occurrences. Degenerative changes in the spine will make these
distinctions obvious to those who know what to look for.

It is vital to know that MRI never diagnoses anything. Instead,
the images must be read by a doctor in order to produce a diagnostic
verdict. Being that this is an incredibly subjective process, it is no
wonder that patients may never really know the validity of any proposed
theory of pain. It is very common for patients to take the same films to several
doctors and get very different diagnostic pronouncements from each.
This mirrors my own experience in the back pain treatment
sector. Even now, with a total of 12 herniated discs in my spine, I
still do not have a verified diagnosis which explains my past symptoms...

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